Neil Portnow News

The GRAMMY Salute To Country Music honoring Loretta Lynn in Nashville, Tennessee October 12, 2010.

As part of its ongoing tradition of celebrating musical excellence throughout the year, The Recording Academy will host GRAMMY Salute To Country Music honoring Loretta Lynn on October 12 at 8 p.m. at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. The star-studded tribute presented by MasterCard will feature live performances and will include a special presentation of The Recording Academy President's Merit Award to Lynn in honor of her dynamic career and contributions to country music.

Albertina Walker died today in Chicago after a battle with emphysema. She was 81 years old. Hailed as the Queen of Gospel, Walker was known for forming the Caravans, the popular gospel act in the '50s that helped launch the careers of artists such as Inez Andrews, Shirley Caesar, James Cleveland, and Cassietta George. The group's classic recordings include songs such as 'Blessed Assurance,' 'Mary Don't You Weep,' 'Soldiers In The Army,' and 'Solid Rock.' As a solo artist, Walker won a GRAMMY for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album in 1994 for Songs Of The Church - Live In Memphis.

As part of its ongoing tradition of celebrating musical excellence throughout the year, The Recording Academy will host GRAMMY Salute To Country Music honoring Loretta Lynn on October 12 at 8 p.m. at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. The star-studded tribute presented by MasterCard will feature live performances and will include a special presentation of The Recording Academy President's Merit Award to Lynn in honor of her dynamic career and contributions to country music.

The GRAMMY Foundation® is currently accepting applications for its 2011 GRAMMY Camp®, GRAMMY® Jazz Ensembles and GRAMMY Signature Schools programs for high school students and high school music programs.

Barbra Streisand, actress/singer/director/writer/composer/producer/designer/author/activist and eight-time GRAMMY® winner (as well as GRAMMY Legend and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient), will be honored as the 2011 MusiCares® Person of the Year at its 21st annual benefit gala, it was announced today by Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the MusiCares Foundation® and The Recording Academy®, and Paul Caine, Chair of the MusiCares Foundation Board.

The GRAMMY Foundation® announced today that three-time GRAMMY® Award winner and one of country music's most successful and influential artists Keith Urban will headline its signature benefit Starry Night concert on July 23, 2010, at the LA Tennis Center at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The Recording Academy® will host the sophomore installment of its GRAMMY Artists RevealedTM series, presented by MasterCard®, as part of its continuing tradition of celebrating musical excellence and diversity throughout the year.

The GRAMMY Foundation® announced today that three-time GRAMMY® Award winner and one of country music's most successful and influential artists Keith Urban will headline its signature benefit Starry Night concert on July 23, 2010, at the LA Tennis Center at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The Recording Academy® will host the sophomore installment of its GRAMMY Artists RevealedTM series, presented by MasterCard®, as part of its continuing tradition of celebrating musical excellence and diversity throughout the year.

The sixth annual MusiCares® MAP Fund® benefit concert will celebrate Women In Recovery and salute former first lady Betty Ford and the Betty Ford Center at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on Friday, May 7.

The 53rd Annual GRAMMY® Awards will take place in Los Angeles at STAPLES Center on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, and will air live on the CBS Television Network from 8 - 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). As a result of last year's earlier show and Awards process dates, this year the eligibility dates for the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards are Sept. 1, 2009, through Sept. 30, 2010.

GRAMMYs on The Hill® honorees include solo artist of the century and two-time GRAMMY® winner Garth Brooks, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), U.S. Representative Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), and the music program of Neuqua Valley High School (a GRAMMY Foundation® Signature School from Naperville, Illinois). The event will be hosted by Oscar®-winning songwriter Paul Williams with performances by Marc Roberge (lead singer of rock band O.A.R.), the GRAMMY Congressional Band and other special guests.

The sixth annual MusiCares® MAP Fund® benefit concert will celebrate Women In Recovery and salute former first lady Betty Ford and the Betty Ford Center at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on Friday, May 7.

Zap2it.com is reporting that select cities around the country will be hosting pre-screenings of the GLEE premiere prior to its mass broadcast on Fox on April 13. Sponsored by FOX, the paid screenings will be used as fundraisers to benefit the Grammy Foundation's 'Grammy in the Schools' music education programs. Pre-screenings begin on April 6. See below for a complete schedule.

The GRAMMY Foundation® (www.grammyfoundation.com) today announced that 12 schools nationwide have been selected as GRAMMY® Signature Schools (www.grammyintheschools.com) for 2010.

Music's Biggest Night, the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards, returns to Los Angeles' STAPLES Center on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, and will air live on the CBS Television Network from 8 - 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). To accommodate an earlier date, the eligibility year for the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards will be shortened by one month (Oct. 1, 2008 - Aug. 31, 2009). The date for the GRAMMY nominations announcement - which showcases GRAMMY Award finalists, the year's best and brightest in music as voted on by The Recording Academy's membership of music professionals - will be reported shortly.

The Recording Academy's GRAMMY Recordings has partnered with EMI Music to release the 2010 GRAMMY Nominees CD, the 16th edition of the best-selling series highlighting artists and songs nominated for the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards. The 20-song collection will be available Jan. 19 and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the CD will benefit the MusiCares and the GRAMMY Foundation, two charitable organizations established by The Recording Academy.

The 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year gala is co-presented by AEG, ELS and Acura. The evening will begin with a special reception and silent auction that will offer an exclusive and unparalleled selection of luxury items, VIP experiences and one-of-a-kind celebrity memorabilia for bidding guests.

The Recording Academy announced the newest additions to its GRAMMY Hall Of Fame, adding 25 recordings to a timeless list that now includes 851 titles. The Hall Of Fame serves as a celebration and reminder of the triumphs and achievements of the recording arts. Selections are drawn from all categories of music, acknowledging the diversity of musical expression for which The Recording Academy has become renowned. The list and recordings now reside as a collection on display at the GRAMMY Museum.